Black Friday rush much calmer after surge in Black Thursday crowds

Shoppers in the New Orleans area flocked to the stores on Thursday night, leaving the usual Black Friday frenzy relatively calm in comparison
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With thousands of shoppers flocking to stores hours earlier than usual, the mad rush that has typified Black Friday gave way this year to an unusually calm shopping day in the New Orleans area. Retailers who opened their doors on Thanksgiving night saw throngs of bargain-hunters lined up around the block, but said that by the time dawn finally broke, the crowds had dispersed and the scene was relatively quiet.

Shoppers line up around the building at the Toys R Us on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie an hour before the store opened at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

At 9 a.m. Friday, Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie almost resembled an average weekend shopping day. Most stores in the mall had opened at midnight or in the early morning hours, beckoning those seeking the bargain-basement deals.

The scene was similar on the northshore, where at 6 a.m., JCPenny was the only store at the River Chase strip mall on Louisiana 21 in Covington with a line to get in. At the Target in Harvey, manager Cheryl Runez said the store was "pretty crazy" in the late evening and early morning hours, but that the rush had died down around 3 a.m.

Despite the waning crowds, Black Friday was still projected to be a big hit with retailers, with early estimates predicting a 4.1 percent jump in holiday sales this year to $586 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. By noon on Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 111 points and Wal-Mart reported their stock was up 1.4 percent, also a good sign.

Shoppers make their way into the J.C. Penney store at Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie on Black Friday. Brett Duke, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune

But there were still the die-hards, insistent on standing in line for the best deals, even if it put a crimp in their Thanksgiving Day dinner plans. Some extra vigilant bargain hunters skipped the meal altogether and camped out as early as Wednesday evening, bundling up with blankets and hot thermoses of coffee.

"I got here Wednesday night and have been here ever since," said Metairie resident Jovan Whitfield, 28, who was first in line at Best Buy before the doors opened at midnight.

"We came here last year and did the same thing. It's almost become a tradition at this point," he said, adding that his group of friends had their Thanksgiving turkey delivered to them in line.

The Wal-Mart on Tchoupitoulas opted to keep its doors open all day on Thanksgiving, slating 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. start times for discounted offerings and dispersing deals throughout the store as part as an effort to minimize the crush of people.

In 2008, a Wal-Mart employee in Long Island was trampled to death after an out-of-control mob smashed through the store's front doors.

"By not shutting the doors and spreading the different discounted items throughout the store we can avoid the crowds and the crush of people," he said, adding that in the aftermath of the tragedy, crowd control and safety on Black Friday has become the retailer's number one concern.

Most of the widely sought-after deals came in the form of electronic goodies. At Best Buy, 40-inch flat screen televisions were scooped up within minutes, and at the Target in the Clearview Mall, a limited number of 50-inch televisions were guaranteed for the first early-bird consumers who were given tickets in line. Other hot items included iPads, PlayStations, Xbox 360s, and laptops -- all of which were offered at steep discounts.

However, not everyone who flocked to the stores was on a bargain-shopping quest.

"To tell you the truth, it's more about the experience and the tradition than it is about getting a great deal," said Christina Wallbillich, 52, who was one of hundreds who showed up for Target's 9 p.m. opening.

"We had a nice dinner at home and we thought, sure, why not? Let's go see the Black Friday crowds," she said. "I could care less about going home with a new TV. I'm just happy to be here spending time with my kids."